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WEDNESDAY, JUNE 22, 1988
HE SAID THE PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TOOK INTO ACCOUNT THE ARGUMENTS ADVANCED BY DIFFERENT GROUPS INTERESTED IN THE SUBJECT OF MENTAL ILLNESS AND REPRESENTED WELL BALANCED CONSIDERATIONS.
"FOR EXAMPLE, THE MEDICAL EMPHASIS IN THE TREATMENT AND CARE OF THE MENTALLY DISORDERED IS DELICATELY WEIGHED AGAINST THE LEGALISTIC EMPHASIS; THE HUMAN RIGHTS OF THE INDIVIDUAL AGAINST THE PROTECTION OF THE GENERAL PUBLIC; AND THE NEED FOR THERAPY AND CARE OF THE MENTALLY SICK PERSONS WHO OFTEN LACK INSIGHT INTO THEIR ILLNESS AGAINST THE RESPECT FOR THEIR PERSONAL LIBERTIES, 17 HE SAID.
DR HO SAID THAT THERE WERE THREE ASPECTS OF THE BILL WHICH HAD CAUSED CONCERN TO THE COMMUNITY. THESE WERE THE DEFINITION OF MENTALLY HANDICAPPED, THE ROLE OF THE POLICE, AND THE MENTAL HEALTH REVIEW TRIBUNAL.
REGARDING THE DEFINITION OF MENTAL DISORDER, HE SAID REPRESENTATIVES OF ORGANISATIONS CONCERNED HAD ARGUED THAT ONLY A SMALL PROPORTION OF THE MENTALLY HANDICAPPED POPULATION WAS AFFLICTED WITH MENTAL IMPAIRMENT WHICH WAS ASSOCIATED WITH AGGRESSIVE OR IRRESPONSIBLE CONDUCT.
THEY THEREFORE SUGGESTED THAT MENTALLY HANDICAPPED PERSONS WITHOUT AGGRESSIVE CONDUCT SHOULD NOT BE SUBJECT ΤΟ COMPULSORY DETENT LON AND TREATMENT IN A MENTAL HOSPITAL.
AFTER CONSULTATION, THE ADMINISTRATION HAD AGREED THAT PERSONS SUFFERING ONLY FROM ARRESTED OR INCOMPLETE DEVELOPMENT OF MIND SHOULD NOT BE DETAINED, DR HO SAID.
"FURTHERMORE, THE ADMINISTRATION HAS AGREED TO SET UP A WORKING PARTY IN THREE MONTHS' TIME то ASSESS THE NEED AND DESIRABILITY OF INTRODUCING SEPARATE LEGISLATION TO TAKE CARE OF THE VARIOUS ASPECTS OF WELFARE OF THE MENTALLY HANDICAPPED.
ON CRITICISMS THAT THE POLICE MIGHT BE GIVEN тоо MUCH POWER UNDER THE PROPOSED SECTION 71B, DR HO SAID THE ADMINISTRATION HAD NOW AGREED THAT TO EXERCISE HIS POWERS UNDER THIS SECTION, A POLICE OFFICER MUST SATISFY HIMSELF THAT TWO CONDITIONS HAD BEEN MET
THE CASE INVOLVED A PERSON WHOM HE REASONABLY BELIEVED TO BE SUFFERING FROM MENTAL DISORDER, AND THE PERSON WAS IN IMMEDIATE NEED OF CARE AND CONTROL.
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HE SAID THE ENFORCEMENT OF SECTION 718 DID NOT APPEAR TO HIM TO INFRINGE CIVIL LIBERTIES, BECAUSE MENTALLY SICK PERSONS OFTEN DID NOT KNOW THAT THEY NEEDED TREATMENT AND THEREFORE DID NOT TAKE THE INITIATIVE TO SEEK IT.
/FURTHERMORE, THE